Experiential Manager

WHO IS HUDSON ROUGE?

Hudson Rouge (a VML company) is a luxury boutique marketing and communications agency that works solely on luxury brands and is the exclusive agency of record for the Lincoln Automotive business across all channels. We combine brand strategy, media strategy, activation, digital, social, earned media, production and analytics to provide exquisitely crafted creativity. We are a small group of people spread across several offices — New York, Detroit, Shanghai, Toronto, and Mexico City — and we care for each other as much as we care for our clients. We are an agency that prides itself on doing the un-usual, and we also look for unusual talent: people who are excited about doing their best work and want to grow with us. We are an agency that prides itself on the highest levels of craft and concept,

Job Summary:

The Experiential Manager is a key member of the Experiential team, responsible for supporting the planning, execution, and wrap-up of impactful experiential marketing activations for the Lincoln brand. This role will assist in bringing Lincoln's Experiential strategy to life through engaging and memorable experiences, working closely with the Associate Director and other team members to ensure seamless and successful program delivery. This position requires a detail-oriented, proactive, and highly organized individual with a passion for experiential marketing, a strong understanding of cultural trends, and the ability to contribute to the development of innovative concepts. The ideal candidate will excel at collaboration within a fully integrated team and possess a strong ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. The Experiential Manager will maintain, strengthen and grow relationships with clients through management of small to large projects, constant communication, and exceptional planning and organization. 

Responsibilities:

• Project Support: Assist the Associate Director and Account Supervisor in all phases of experiential projects, from initial concept development to post-event reporting.
• Planning & Logistics: Support the development of detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets. Assist with vendor sourcing, negotiation, and management.
• Execution: Provide on-site support during experiential activations, ensuring smooth operations, managing logistics, and troubleshooting any issues that arise. On location, the Manager facilitates communication between the agency and our supplier.
• Vendor Management: Assist in identifying, vetting, and managing vendors (e.g., production companies, staffing agencies, venues, caterers) to ensure high-quality execution within budget.
• Budget Management: Track expenses, process invoices, and assist in budget reconciliation.
• Creative Coordination: Collaborate with creative teams to ensure that experiential elements align with the overall brand strategy and creative vision.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate records of project plans, budgets, vendor contracts, and other relevant documentation.
• Reporting: Assist in the preparation of post-event reports, including data collection, analysis, and presentation of key findings.
• Vehicle Logistics: Assist in the coordination of vehicle procurement, transportation, and display for experiential activations.
• Client Communication: Assist in preparing client-facing materials, such as presentations and status updates.
• Research: Conduct research on industry trends, competitive activities, and potential vendors as needed
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with other agency teams (e.g., social media, PR, media) to ensure integrated program execution.
• Travel: Travel to event locations as needed to provide on-site support.
• Concept Development: Contribute to the development and execution of compelling and innovative experiential concepts from the ground up, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and efficient use of client resources. The Manager will plan, schedule and control specific project activities toward defined objectives and adhere to defined production requirements.

 Required Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in experiential marketing, experiential event planning, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• Deep understanding of the experiential marketing space (a plus if it's across luxury auto and non-auto brands).
• Passion for experiential marketing and a desire to learn and grow.
• A passion for cultural trends.
• Excels at collaborating with a fully integrated team, including creative, social media, PR, and media specialists.
• Experience working on automotive accounts is a plus.
• Must be extremely organized, detail-oriented and capable of self-managing and multitasking in a fast-paced, demanding environment
• Able to apply critical and strategic thinking
• Able to quickly understand new technology concepts.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with budget management and vendor negotiation.
• Problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to challenges.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Knowledge of event production processes and technical aspects of event planning and execution

 Software/Program Knowledge:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (Hudson Rouge) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

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